"That represents the fourteen unpacked aeroplanes," said Alfred.
"What do you know about them?" asked the colonel.
"Joe told me there were that many in the cases," answered Alfred.
"Well, I wonder where that fellow has hidden himself?" said Ralph.
"How did you know about the numbers on that paper?" asked the colonel.
"We saw him put them down; and that is what created the suspicion in our minds," said Alfred.
"One thing more," said Ralph. "May I examine the paper?"
He scanned it from top to bottom, then turned to the colonel. "How many men," he asked, "were in the regiment that came in about an hour ago?"
The colonel turned to the orderly. The latter replied: "890, according to the rolls, if you mean the 23d Essex."